Pediatricians in Bali are noting rising cases of COVID-19 among children in the province, highlighting 89 confirmed patients in the age group so far and suggesting stricter isolation of confirmed adult patients as well as keeping children at home to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
“Adult COVID-19 cases need to be quarantined strictly so they won’t infect children, [and] children must be kept safe at home,” I Gusti Lanang Sidiartha, who heads the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI), said.
Sidiartha added many children are vulnerable to coronavirus infections from their adult family members.
According to the latest official data, Bali has recorded 89 pediatric cases of COVID-19 across the island, 26 of whom are patients below five years of age. The rest of Bali, meanwhile, has been recording rising cases of local transmissions, bringing the provincial tally to 1,116 as of yesterday afternoon.
Furthermore, Sidiartha said adults should refrain from taking their children to crowded places, especially areas that are classified as red zones, further noting that the provincial government in Bali should also focus on COVID-19 cases among children.
Children appear particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 in Indonesia, with the latest official data issued on June 23 from the Indonesian ministry of health showing more than 3,700 confirmed patients below 17 years of age across the country, out of a total of 47,896 patients.
Indonesian pediatricians and health officials said the high number of pediatric cases was due to underlying factors, including malnutrition and inadequate child health facilities.
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